More Filipino fishermen should go out and fish in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), urged National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on Thursday, Nov. 5. “I would rather encourage more fishermen (to go out) there but not as militias,” he said during an interview over CNN Philippines amid territorial disputes with other countries including China over the WPS. Esperon pointed this out in response to the proposals to deploy militias to help patrol the WPS.

Damicog, J. (2020, November 6). 'Go out there in West PH Sea,' Esperon urges Pinoy fishermen. Manila Bulletin, p. 2.